The Delta State government has expressed partial support for the proposed creation of Anioma State.
This official stance was conveyed on Monday, the 15th of December, 2025, as Anioma youths from the nine local government areas of Delta North staged a peaceful protest to the Government House in Asaba.
The demonstration was organized to renew their long-standing demand for the creation of Anioma State and to insist on its zoning to the South-East geopolitical zone.
Addressing the demonstrators at the Government House, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Prince Johnson Erijo, assured the youth that the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori harbors no opposition to the legitimate aspirations of the Anioma people.
However, Prince Erijo firmly stated that the pursuit of the new state must be pursued strictly in line with due constitutional processes.
He maintained that the agitation for Anioma State was neither misplaced nor improperly articulated and deserved sincere consideration. The Chief of Staff further emphasized that the government remains firmly committed to democratic choice, the rule of law and the expressed will of the people.
Prince Erijo commended the protesters for their peaceful disposition, describing it as a reflection of maturity, responsibility and genuine commitment to their cause. He revealed that Governor Oborevwori had been fully briefed on the protest and had directed him to engage the group directly and listen to their concerns.
Citing a scriptural reference, he noted that the government has a responsibility to respond to the genuine needs of its populace, stressing that “no earthly father would give a stone to a child who asks for bread.”
The Chief of Staff further underscored the necessity of unity among Anioma people, suggesting that a cohesive and clearly defined position would amplify the agitation and eliminate conflicting opinions. “If the people are in agreement as to the Anioma they desire, there should be no room for dissenting voices,” he said.
Explaining the constitutional requirements for creating a new state, Prince Erijo detailed that the process was clearly outlined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This involves submitting petitions and memoranda to the National Assembly, followed by legislative consideration and the conduct of a referendum.
He clarified that such a referendum would necessarily encompass all Anioma-speaking local government areas Aniocha North and South, Oshimili North and South, Ika North East and Ika South, Ndokwa West and Ndokwa East as well as other interested enclaves, specifically mentioning Igbanke in Edo State.
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Prince Erijo assured the youths that once a referendum is successfully conducted and the majority of the people expressed their desire for Anioma State, their decision would be respected. He reiterated that Governor Oborevwori was not opposed to the creation of Anioma State and would support any outcome that reflected the majority will of the people through lawful means.
Thanking the protesters for their orderly conduct, the Chief of Staff urged them to maintain their calm and law-abiding disposition as they continue to pursue the creation of Anioma State, promising that any collective decision reached by the people would be honoured, provided it reflected the majority position.
Earlier in the day, the protesting youths, organized under a coalition, reaffirmed their demand for Anioma state and its zoning to the South-East. They declared that ancestrally, culturally and linguistically, they were Igbo people, stressing that their identity could no longer be denied or downplayed.
Speaking through their leaders Ofochi Atagana (Ukwuani youths), Ayo Ashiedu (Aniocha North), Kingsley Kainebi (Ika North East), and Chief Jude Ogbekile (Igbanke community) the youths appealed to the Delta State government to offer political and moral support to their cause.
While acknowledging that state creation follows constitutional procedures, they noted the vital role governors play in advancing such causes. They characterized the creation of Anioma State as a win-win arrangement, observing that Asaba would naturally become the capital of the proposed State while Delta State would gain the opportunity to designate a new capital elsewhere.
The youth coalition called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to support the bill for Anioma State, reaffirming their resolve to be reunited with their kith and kin across the Niger.